Joel Osteen teaches Christians clean/unclean foods! No pork!

The Top 5 Misconceptions of Backbiting and How To Respond To Them

Posted by SaqibSaab on April 7th, 2009 40 Comments Printer-Friendly

Backbiting is one of those Islamic topics that often gets sidelined. Appearing as one of the frequenttarbīyyah topics in common circles and gatherings, the issue may be forgotten or ignored. This is severely problematic, as backbiting is one of the most devastating sins a person can ever commit, and not keeping ourselves reminded about it can lead to grave consequences.

To make it fresh in our minds again, let’s tackle the issue in a practical way. Here are 5 common misconceptions that we ourselves or others you encounter may have about backbiting, what is misunderstood, and how to respond to them.

Misconception #5: I’m not backbiting, I’m just saying.

When people respond with, “I’m just saying,” they’re telling themselves that what they’re mentioning is not something so bad as backbiting, it’s just “saying” things as they are. In other words, they’re trivializing the act, and telling themselves that backbiting isn’t really all that bad.

But backbiting is no walk in the park. It’s one of the most disgusting acts one could ever commit. That’s why Allah subḥāna wa ta’āla asks those who backbite, “Would one of you love to eat the flesh of his dead brother (or sister)?”¹ God Himself is comparing backbiting to something vilely rancid, so no one is fooled to think it’s not an inhuman act like that of murder or rape. The imagery of you eating the dead carcass of the person you’re talking about really paints a clear picture.

Not only that, Allah is asking us if we would love eating that flesh. It’s as if He is saying not only is backbiting as disgusting as eating that person’s dead flesh, when we backbite, it’s as if we enjoy eating it, too.

Response: Describe to them how disgusting an act backbiting really is.

“You’re not, just saying. You’re going to that person’s body after their janāzah, ripping off their thigh, chewing it up, and enjoying it, too.”

Misconception #4: I’m not backbiting, everyone already knows about this person, anyway.

If a person is mentioning things about someone already known, not only are they still backbiting, they’re following the footsteps of hypocrites. The hypocrites of Medinah spread rumors about ‘Ā’isha, may Allah be pleased with her, and as a result were cursed by Allah to the depths of Hellfire.²

Hellfire, which was intensified by Allah for thousands of years, turning its flame from orange to red to yellow to black³, and burns 70 times worse than Earth’s fire (minimum 210th degree burns?)⁴. The same Hellfire where those who spread lies about others get hooks pierced into their cheeks and slammed back to rip off their faces, and are given scalding hot puss to drink as relief.

If everyone already knows about it, why spread it and potentially go to the horror that is Hell? And if not the Hellfire, then being punished in the grave with copper nails repeatedly scratching your face and chest off?⁵ The risk simply isn’t worth it.

Response: Remind them about the punishment of backbiting and how it makes spreading rumors not worth the risk.

“Mentioning what everyone already knows about somebody is a dangerous path to Hellfire. Is spreading the news so important that it’s worth living with black fire that’s 70 times hotter, boiling puss drinks and having your cheeks ripped off your face?”

 

Continue Reading…

The End of Music – Kamal El-Mekki

“The love of Qur’an cannot unite with love of music in the same heart”

 

 

Or click here for an mp3 you can download and burn to a CD to listen in the car Insha Allah.
 

Kamal El-Mekki wrote a poem that he recited during the talk:

O Muslim, lawful things have good attributes
Where is the good in singing, dancing and listening to flutes?
Can we compare the words of singers and sounds of Musicians
To the Glorious Quran, its lessons, wisdoms and admonitions?
How many singers do you know and give admiration,
And how many do you know of the companions and the following generation?
How much do you spend on singers from your dollars?
Compared to how many you know of Islamic Scholars.
Do you see how much is memorized of Music songs?
While you ignore the book to which memorization belongs?
How much do you memorize of these incantations?
And swayed back and forth in intoxication?
Have you not seen those who follow the misguided?
And increase the loudness of the Music, when they should hide it?
And who writes their songs? thinkers, or men of academia?
Or maybe scholars, like Ahmad, Malik or maybe ibn Taymiyah.
O you who listens to music..
Don’t you see that All the songs of the world and all the lyrics you’ve seen
Wouldn’t compare in reward to Alif Laam Meem

What is that?

I remember Imam Ahmadullah mentioning this story in a khutba… here it is!

 

 

Quran

1. “We have enjoined on man kindness to his parents; in pain did his mother bear him, and in pain did she give him birth” (46:15).

2. “Thy Lord hath decreed that ye worship none but Him, and that ye be kind to parents. Whether one or both of them attain old age in thy life, say not to them a word of contempt, nor repel them, but address them in terms of honor. And out of kindness, lower to them the wing of humility, and say: ‘My Lord! bestow on them Thy Mercy even as they cherished me in childhood’ “(17:23-24).

3. “We have enjoined on man and woman kindness to parents; but if they (either of them) strive (to force) thee to join with Me anything of which thou hast no knowledge, obey them not’” (29:8).

4. “We have enjoined on man and woman (to be good) to his/her parents; show gratitude to Me and to thy parents; to Me is (thy final) Goal. If they (parents) strive to make thee join in worship with Me things of which thou hast no knowledge, obey them not; yet bear them company in this life with justice (and consideration) and follow the way of those who turn to Me (in love)” (31:14-15).

 

Hadith

1. The Prophet Muhammad said, may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him: Your Heaven lies under the feet of your mother (Ahmad, Nasai).

2. A man came to the Prophet and said, ‘O Messenger of God! Who among the people is the most worthy of my good companionship? The Prophet said: Your mother. The man said, ‘Then who?’ The Prophet said: Then your mother. The man further asked, ‘Then who?’ The Prophet said: Then your mother. The man asked again, ‘Then who?’ The Prophet said: Then your father. (Bukhari, Muslim).

3. Abu Usaid Saidi said: We were once sitting with Rasulullah when a man from the tribe of Salmah came and said to him: O Messenger of Allah! do my parents have rights over me even after they have died? And Rasulullah said: Yes. You must pray to Allah to bless them with His Forgiveness and Mercy, fulfill the promises they made to anyone, and respect their relations and their friends (Abu Dawud and Ibn Majah).

4. Abdullah ibn Amr related that the Messenger of Allah said: The major sins are to believe that Allah has partners, to disobey one’s parents, to commit murder, and to bear false witness (Bukhari, Muslim).

5. It is narrated by Asma bint Abu Bakr that during the treaty of Hudaibiyah, her mother, who was then pagan, came to see her from Makkah. Asma informed the Messenger of Allah of her arrival and also that she needed help. He said: Be good to your mother (Bukhari, Muslim).

 

 

From: Future Scholar Blogger

Gatherings of the Remembrance of Allah

 

1447. Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, “Allah, the Exalted, has teams of angels who go about on the roads seeking those who remember Allah. When they find some people remembering Allah they call to one another and say, `Come to what you are looking for;’ and they surround them with their wings till the space between them and the lowest sky is fully covered. Allah, the Exalted and Glorious, asks them (although He is best informed about every thing): `What are my slave saying?’ They say: `They are glorifying Your Tasbih, Tahmid, Takbir, Tamjid, (i.e., they were declaring Your Perfectness, praising, remembering the Greatness and Majesty of Allah).’ He asks: `Have they seen Me?’ They reply, `No, indeed, they have not seen You.’ He asks: `How would they act if they were to see Me?’ Thereupon they reply: `If they were to see You, they would engage more earnestly in worshipping and glorifying You and would extol You more.’ He would say: `What do they beg of Me?’ They say, `They beg You for Your Jannah.’ Allah says, `Have they seen My Jannah?’ They say, `No, our Rubb.’ He says: `How would they act if they were to see My Jannah?’ They reply, `Were they to see it, they would more intensely eager for it.’ They (the angels) say, `They seek Your Protection.’ He asks, `Against what do they seek My Protection?’ They (the angels) say, `Our Rubb, from the fire of Hell.’ (He, the Rubb) says, `Have they seen the fire of Hell?’ They say, `No. By Your Honour, they have not seen it.’ He says: `How would they act if they were to see My Fire?’ They say: `If they were to see it, they would more earnest in being away from it and fearing it. They beg of Your forgiveness.’ He says: `I call you to witness that I hereby grant pardon to them and confer upon them what they ask for; and grant them protection against what they seek protection from.’ One of the angels says: `Our Rubb, there is amongst them such and such slave who does not belong to the assembly of those who are participating in Your remembrance. He passed by them and sat down with them.’ He says: `I also grant him pardon because they are the people by virtue of whom their associates will not be unfortunate‘.”

[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

(The narration in Muslim is also the same with minor changes in wordings).

Taken from Riyad-us-Saliheen

Commentary: What kind of circles and gatherings of remembrance of Allah are referred to here? Obviously not those in which Allah is remembered in the ways invented by the participants themselves, i.e., repetition of the slogans “Allah-Hu”, “Haq-Allah”,  etc.,which have not been mentioned in any Hadith. The repetition of any specific word, in a specific manner and in a peculiar surrounding (such as by putting the lights off) – this manner of conducting the remembrance of Allah is also not evident from the practice of the Prophet (PBUH) and his Companions. The circles and gatherings mentioned in this Hadith are those in which, the Prophet’s Sunnah is fully observed. The words such as Subhan-Allah, Al-hamdu lillah, La ilaha illallah, Allahu Akbar etc., are recited and Praise and Glorification of Allah are done after Salat. The groups are quietly engaged in the remembrance of Allah, and those who attend the sermons and speeches delivered in mosques on Friday also come in this category of meetings and gatherings as these are ordained in Islam. This Hadith also highlights the distinction of Muslims who are engaged in the remembrance of Allah and the Du`a they recite on the suggested times and occasions.

Interview with Terry Holdbrooks – The Guantanamo Bay Guard who Became Muslim

 

As the US government moves to shutdown its detention centre at Guantanamo Bay, stories are emerging of the way it affected those inside.

Former inmates have talked about the deprivation and pressures they faced.

But Terry Holdbrooks was on the other side. He was a US soldier and he says he saw something in the behaviour of the inmates that changed him. He tells his story to Al Jazeera in his own words.

Islam Box

 

What is it?

Islam Box is the new, exciting and easy way to watch Islamic Television from around the world without purchasing and installing big satellites.

Islam Box uses your existing broadband internet connection and connects to Islam Box Servers spread around the globe to gain access to Islamic Channels like Islam Channel from UK, Peace TV from India, Huda TV from Egypt and list goes on.

Islamic Television has become an integral part of Muslims living all over the world specially living in west, with so many inappropriate channels present, Muslims for all over the world can now view five daily prayers from Makkah and Madina, Saudi Arabia through Islam Box on Saudi State Television 1 and Saudi State Television 2.

Muslims originally from Pakistan and India, now living in west can understand and learn Islamic teaching through Peace TV on Islam Box. Muslims originally from Middle East and now living in West can always watch AlMajd Satellite Channel, Sharjeh TV, IQRA and many more on Islam Box to keep them abreast.

Younger generation can always turn to Islam Channel, Peace TV and Saudi2 on Islam Box to learn about their religion and culture. For young ones we have Aljazeera Childern Channel on Islam Box to give them right upbringing what they deserve.

Remember, our channel list updates from time to time, please click here for most updated TV Channel list and click here for Radio channels. 

More info here.

 

So, we ordered it…! Initially we had a satellite that we had purchased that picked up some of these channels for free such as Peace TV and Al-Jazeera, Shariqah, and so on… but then Peace TV changed its frequency and did not function. And Masha Allah what a solution.

For those who don’t know, there are websites that stream Islamic channels and others such as Al-Jazeera that you can watch online.

Here are the ones I have found:

1. Islam Box
2. MuslimCo
3. Muslim Video Online TV

Sure, it’s great that you can watch these online… but it’s definitely not as convenient as it being on the TV where you can just switch through the channels and view them on the big screen. 

 

So, Islam Box basically takes these channels and broadcasts them to your TV using the internet. There is no need for a satellite dish. However… there is a monthly fee of $25 which they say is necessary to cover bandwidth usage on their side, etc.

What you need:

1. A TV

2. High-speed internet

3. Islam Box

Essentially, you set it up the same way as you set up a game console such as the Xbox. You plug it into the wall and hook it up to the TV using the three colored (red, white, yellow) wire to your TV. However, you need to connect it to the internet somehow. If you have wireless internet in your home, then you have a wireless router which is hooked up to your cable modem or DSL. Ideally, it would be best if your cable modem and router are next to your TV. Then, all you have to do is connect your Islam Box to the router using an ethernet wire. I did exactly that. If your modem and router are not near the TV, there is the option of buying a wireless adapter that can connect the Islam Box to your wireless internet connection. Here’s what they say on their site:

“Islam Box ships with all the necessary accessories you need to plug in your Islam Box STB (IB 160) to your TV set and to internet router. However, if your router is far away from your television set then you could purchase a Powerline HomePlug in the United Kingdom or in the United States a NETGEAR – Wall-Plugged Ethernet Bridge. The HomePlug and NETGEAR – Wall Plugged Ethernet Bridge acts as a wireless connection to your Islam Box. Members connect one of the Homeplugs or Wall Plugs to a plug near the Islam Box and the other Homeplug or Wall Plug would connect to a plug near the router. The HomePlug and the NETGEAR – Wall-Plugged Ethernet Bridge essentially use the electrical wires in your home to connect both devices to one another. An alternative would be to run a long network cable from your Islam Box 160 to your internet router.”

 

Once you have done the following, then rejoice, for your “Googoo” box as Yusuf Islam once called the TV from a video I saw has now been equipped with Islam Box!

 

Gallery:

 

Click the picture or this link for the gallery.

Rare and Unique Reading of Surah Ar-Rahman – Meshary Rashid Alafasy

 

Beautiful, Masha Allah.

Sukoon al-Layl [Part 1]

As-salamu `alaykum wa rahmatullah

There has not been a Prophet or Messenger except that they spent their nights in the worship of the One Who had sent them, and the night prayer has always been a sign of a believer. An Ummah precedes us who would revive their nights with prayer and supplication, who would beseech their Lord at a time when He is closest to them. Abu Bakr al-Siddiq (radhiallahu `anhu) once said to ‘Umar, ‘O Umar! Verily, Allah has rights by night which He does not accept during the day, and verily Allah has rights by day which He does not accept during the night…’

Truly, the Paradise of the believer in this world lies in his place of prayer…
 
______

The night prayer of the Prophets

Fudhayl ibn al-’Iyadh: ‘It used to be said that the characteristics of the Prophets and the righteous, the chosen ones from Mankind whose hearts are pure, are three characteristics: They were forbearing, oft-returning (to Allah), and they all had a portion of Qiyam al-Layl (the night prayer).’

Musa `alayhisalam: The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) said, ‘I passed by Musa – `alayhisalam – on the night of my Ascension while he was in his grave praying.’ 1

‘Isa `alayhisalam: ‘Verily the night and the day are two stores so look to what you do in them.’ Ibn ‘Abbas (radhiallahu `anhu) said regarding Prophet ‘Isa,‘Wherever the night caught up with him, he would straighten his feet and stand in prayer until the morning.’ 2

Dawud `alayhisalam: The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) said,‘Dawud was the most devout worshipper from Mankind.’ 3

The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) said, ‘The most beloved of prayers to Allah is the prayer of Dawud and the most beloved of fasts to Allah is the fast of Dawud. He used to sleep half of the night, stand up in prayer for a third of it and sleep a sixth of it, and he used to fast on alternate days.’ 4

Sulayman `alayhisalam: The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) said, ‘The mother of Sulayman ibn Dawud said to Sulayman ‘O my son, do not sleep a lot at night because indeed, sleeping too much at night will leave a man in poverty on the Day of Judgment.’ 5

 

The night prayer of the righteous

The Prophet (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam): ‘Upon you is to observe the night prayer for it is the way of the righteous that came before you…’

Whenever Mu’adh ibn al-Jabal rose to pray at night, he would call out, ‘O Allah, indeed the eyes of people are asleep and the stars have receded but You are the Ever Living and Eternal. O Allah, my way to Paradise is slow and my fleeing from Hellfire is weak. O Allah, grant me Guidance from You which you return to me on the Day of Judgment, truly You do not fail in Your Promise.’ 6

Abul-’Aliyah: ‘We used to consider it a big sin that a man learns Qur’an then he sleeps without reciting some of it (in prayer).’ 7

Al-Hasan al-Basri: ‘If a slave falls asleep in prostration (out of tiredness), Allah boasts about him to the Angels saying, ‘Look at My slave, he worships Me whilst his soul is with Me and he is in prostration.’ 8

He (rahimahullah) also said: ‘By Allah, I have accompanied a people who spent these dark nights prostrating and standing up in prayer to their Lord. Their tears would flow down their cheeks, one time they’d be bowing and another time they are in prostration. They beseech and implore their Lord to free their necks (from the Hellfire) and the long night did not bore them because of the hope in their hearts for the Day of Return. May Allah have mercy upon a person who competes with them in these deeds and who is not content with falling short… truly the world has cut off its inhabitants and the deeds of a people are only returned to them.’ 9

It was once said to Yunus ibn ‘Ubayd, ‘Have you ever seen anyone perform like the deeds of Al-Hasan al-Basri?’ He said, ‘By Allah, I have not seen anyone who even speaks like him so how can I see anyone do like his deeds?! His words of admonition used to make the hearts weep while the admonition of other people doesn’t even make the eyes weep.’ 10

Al-Rabi’ ibn Khuthaym: He bought a horse for thirty thousand and used it to partake in battles. One day he sent his servant Yasar (on an errand) and tied his horse. When the servant returned he said, ‘O Rabi! Where is your horse?’ He said, ‘It has been stolen, O Yasar.’ He said, ‘While you were looking?!’ He said,‘Yes, O Yasar. But I was beseeching my Lord `azza wa jall and there is nothing to busy me from beseeching my Lord.’ Then he made du’a for the thief saying, ‘O Allah, he stole from me and it was not I who stole from him. O Allah, if he is wealthy, then guide him and if he is poor then give him wealth.’11

Al-Hasan al-Banna: ‘The minutes of the night are expensive so do not render them cheap by heedlessness.’

One of the Salaf used to say: ‘For 40 years, nothing has upset me as much as the rise of dawn.’ (i.e. marking the end of tahajjud)

‘Amr ibn al-Aswad used to have an expensive garment of 200 dirhams which he wore exclusively for the night prayer. 12

Imam Hamza ibn Habib (one the 7 Qurraa): Muhammad ibn al-Fudhayl said about him, ‘I don’t consider that Allah keeps punishment away from the people of Kufa except by (the virtues of) Hamza. He used to read the Qur’an until the people departed, then he would pray four units, then he would pray between al-Dhuhr and al-’Asr, and between al-Maghrib and al-’Isha. One of his neighbours said that he never used to sleep at night and that they would often hear him recite the Qur’an melodiously.’ Hamza himself used to say, ‘I would look into the mushaf (copy of Qur’an) until I feared losing my sight!’ 13

Abu Ja’far (also one of the Qurra): Nafi’ (rahimahullah) said. ‘When Abu Ja’far was being washed (for his funeral), they saw that between his neck and heart was a script like that of the mushaf. No one from among those present doubted that this was the light of the Qur’an.’ 14

‘Abdullah ibn Ghalib al-Hadani: ‘When the enemy approached (in battle), he said ‘What can sadden me in this world? By Allah, there is no happiness in it for the wise one and by Allah, were it not for my love of meeting the night in prostration and lying my forehead down for You O’ Master, in-between movement of limbs and joints (i.e. praying), in the depth of the nights all in hope of Your reward and Pleasure, were it not for this, I would have hoped to leave this world and its people.’ Then he broke the scabbard of his sword and went forth to fight until he was killed. When he was buried, they found the fragrance of musk at his grave and the people began to take the dust of his grave as if it were musk.

A man once saw him in a dream and said, ‘O Abu Faras, what have you done?’ He said, ‘The best of deeds.’ He asked, ‘Where have you gone?’ He said, ‘To Paradise,’ He said, ‘With what?’ He said, ‘By having conviction (yaqin) and standing for long periods in Tahajjud (night prayer) and bearing thirst in the midday heat (i.e. fasting).’ He said, ‘And what is this sweet fragrance at your grave?’ He said, ‘That is the fragrance of recitation and thirst.’ He said, ‘Advise me.’ He said, ‘Seize goodness for yourself; do not allow the nights and days to pass you by empty, for indeed I have seen that the righteous ones attain piety with piety.’ 15

Qatadah: ‘A hypocrite does not remain vigil at night (in prayer).’ 16

Abu Salman al-Darani: ‘If it wasn’t for the Night prayer, I wouldn’t have liked to remain in this world.’

Hadith: The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) said, “Our Lord descends during the last third of each night to the lower heaven, and says: ‘Is there anyone who calls on Me that I may respond to him? Is there anyone who asks Me that I may give unto him? Is there anyone who requests My Forgiveness that I may forgive him?” 17

Rabi’a al-’Abidah: When questioned by her husband as to why she gets up to pray at night, she simply said, ‘I only rise up when I am called.’ 18

And ‘Utbah would be found walking along the seashore at night saying, ‘O Allah, if You punish me, then I do love You and if You have mercy upon me, then still I love You.’ 19

Hadith Qudsi: ‘O My Slaves, it is only your deeds which I record for you, then I shall reward you for them…’ 20
To be continued insha’Allah…

__________________________

References

1] Sahih Muslim, Ahmad and al-Nasa’i
2] Al-Bidayah wal-Nihayah (2/16)
3] Sahih Muslim, al-Tirmidhi, al-Hakim
4] Sahih al-Bukhari
5] Reported by Ibn Majah and al-Bayhaqi (chain contains al-Fadhl ibn ‘Isa who is weak)
6] Hilyat al-Awliya, by Abu Nu’aym
7] Al-Zuhd, by Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal
8] Al-Zuhd
9] Mukhtasar Qiyam al-Layl, by Al-Marwazi
10] Tanbih al-Mughtarin, by Al-Sha’rani
11] Al-Zuhd
12] Al-Bidayah wa al-Nihayah, by Ibn Kathir (8/26)
13] Ma’rifat al-Qurraa al-Kibar
14] Siyar A’lam al-Nubala, by Imam al-Dhahabi
15] Mukhtasar Qiyam al-Layl, by Imam al-Samarqandi
[16] Hilyat al-Awliya’, by Abu Nu’aym
[17] Sifat al-Safwah, by Ibn al-Qayyim
[18] Reported by al-Bukhari and Muslim
[19] Sifat al-Safwah
[20] Sahih Muslim

 

From: Fajr

Every Believer Will Be Tested

Another post of the Reminder series from a friend of mine:  

 

by: Shaykh Dr. Saalih As-Saalih رحمه الله
Delivered on May 20th, 2006 

The Shaykh رحمه الله began by praising Allaah سبحانه وتعالى and sending the salutation and salaam upon the most noble of all Prophets and Messengers صلى الله عليه وسلم, his family and followers. He then said:

All praise is due to Allaah. The Most High, the One who says:

 

{And certainly, We shall test you with something of fear, hunger, loss of wealth, lives and fruits, but give glad tidings to As-Saabiroon (the patient). Who, when afflicted with calamity, say: “Truly, to Allaah we belong and truly, to Him we shall return.” They are those on whom are the Salawaat (i.e. who are blessed and will be forgiven) from their Lord, and (they are those who) receive His Mercy, and it is they who are the guided ones.} [Al-Baqarah 2:155–157]

May the salaah and salaam of Allaah be upon His Messenger, Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم, the one who was tried and tested with various types of tests and he was patient and persevered. May the salaah and salaam of Allaah سبحانه وتعالى be up on his household and the noble Companions, who also were tested and tried, and upon the righteous predecessors and on those who followed them in righteousness until the Day of Resurrection. 

 

EVERY BELIEVER WILL BE TESTED

It is clear that this life is filled with calamites, tests and trials. Every believer will be subjected to many of these calamities, tests and trials. Sometimes these trials are manifested in himself, sometimes in his wealth, and sometimes with his beloved ones. These preordainments are from the One who is All-Wise and they touch the believer in various ways and manners. If a believer does not have the correct understanding regarding the manner of dealing with trials and tribulations he may err seriously. This is especially true when facing difficult and burdensome calamities. 

Many people are ignorant of the wisdom behind facing trials and tests. They may not understand that Allaah سبحانه وتعالى does not intend to punish us through tests; rather Allaah creates an opportunity to earn His Mercy. The believer should look at the matter of ‘ibtilah (being put to tests) and trials through the textual proofs from the Qur’aan and the authentic Sunnah of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم, in order to stand firmly grounded regarding these matters. 

Yes, it is a test and a trial. Every day we are tested in this life. Our wealth is a test; the spouse is a test; the children are tests; poverty, wealth, and richness are tests and health and illness are tests. We are tested in everything which we possess and encounter in this life and until we meet Allaah the Most High. 
 

Allaah سبحانه وتعالى says in Surah al-Anbiyaa’, verse 35:

    

{Everyone is going to taste death, and We shall make a trial of you with evil and with good. And to Us you will be returned.} [Al-Anbiyaa’ 21:35]

 

 

 

 

And Allaah سبحانه وتعالى said in Surah al-Ankaboot, verses 2 -3:

{Do people think that they will be left alone because they say: “We believe,” and will not be tested. And We indeed tested those who were before them. And Allaah will certainly make (it) known (the truth of) those who are true, and will certainly make (it) known (the falsehood of) those who are liars, (although Allaah knows all that before putting them to test).} [al-Ankaboot 29:2-3]

Therefore both the healthy and the ill are tested. The one who was healthy did not know until he was touched by a trial, and the one who was ill did not feel that he was being tested until he was cured. No one is safe from this due to his prestige or his status. This does not prevent the matter of testing as we remember from the authentic hadeeth, narrated by al-Bukhaaree where the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “The most intense in terms of testing are the prophets and then the like and then the like.”[1] 

Amongst us there is no one who possesses the ability to reject the tests. The faithful, patient, persevering individuals, who anticipate their reward from Allaah سبحانه وتعالى are the successful ones amongst the tested. Also from amongst us are those who are tested but they fail due to their weak faith and their objection to Allaah سبحانه وتعالى; we seek refuge in Allaah سبحانه وتعالى from such a state. 

May Allaah’s Mercy be upon al-Fudayl bin ‘Iyaad who said, “As long as the people are in a state of good welfare, once tested, they will return to their realities. The believer will go to his faith and the hypocrite will go to his hypocrisy.”[2]